I currently have an HK450V2, I'm addicted to the hobby now and I'd really like to get another 450. I was hoping for something different though.

Are there any alternatives to the Align and Align clones out there? Maybe something of a different design? I was very intrigued by the SJM and Gazaur helicopters, as they have a totally different design to them, but it appears that parts (and even the helicopters) are almost impossible to find. I don't mind waiting for parts, as long as I can get them at all. It looks like that might be an issue for those two.

The only other contender I have found is GAUI. Are there any others?

Edit: Forgot about the dynam/exceed/art tech/others as seen on xheli.com. Lets assume i'm looking for a kit, not an ARF/RTF bird. Also, those all seem very similar to the align design.

My favorite 450 is the Thunder Tiger Mini Titan E325. For something a bit bigger, I like the Century Swift NX. I tried Align and several clones a few years ago and did not like their design. Gaui isn't bad. Most vendors no longer carry Gazaur. I don't know if that's a sign of anything. The Mikado Logo 400 is an excellent heli. Hirobo makes great stuff, always very interesting designs; the Embla 450E is their latest.

I currently have an HK450V2, I'm addicted to the hobby now and I'd really like to get another 450. I was hoping for something different though.

Are there any alternatives to the Align and Align clones out there? Maybe something of a different design? I was very intrigued by the SJM and Gazaur helicopters, as they have a totally different design to them, but it appears that parts (and even the helicopters) are almost impossible to find. I don't mind waiting for parts, as long as I can get them at all. It looks like that might be an issue for those two.

The only other contender I have found is GAUI. Are there any others?

Edit: Forgot about the dynam/exceed/art tech/others as seen on xheli.com. Lets assume i'm looking for a kit, not an ARF/RTF bird. Also, those all seem very similar to the align design.

Sounds like now would be a good time to consider going into something a little bigger like a 550 size. My Century Swift NX (550 blades) flies much like my bigger ones and does not cost that much more to get into the air then my good 450's and can be set-up for use with 4S. or 5S or 6S packs.

Since getting my first larger electric heli, I find my 450's now sit on the shelf a lot.

You will find many threads about it and other larger helis in this other electric forum here on RCG that is dedicated to larger electric helicopters (those larger then 450's)

It does seem like a shame that nearly all the designs are very close to each other. As was mentioned, it seems like mankind has explored all the quirky ideas and decided the Align type rotorhead design was about as good as we could do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotoraddict

Sounds like now would be a good time to consider going into something a little bigger like a 550 size.

I had considered that and ruled it out due to cost, but it seems like getting a "unique" 450 runs about the same cost as a 500/550 size bird.

If I were to go bigger, I think I'd stick with the 500 size though. 500's appear to be able to use 2x2200 3s batteries, which means I don't need new batteries since I already have a bunch of them. Upping to the 550 seems like it costs significantly more in all respects (just my observation though).

Of the 450's that Hirobo looks the most interesting. That servo/linkage layout for the cyclic looks nuts. Plus, I have a soft spot for Hirobo products, as a Hirobo shuttle circa 1985 is what got my addiction started. I flew it for all of 3 seconds before I freaked out, pancaked it, and had a boom strike. But the seed of interest had been planted...

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm all ears for further recommendations.

I have a Hirobo SRB Quark. It was a very unusual and expensive FP heli. But, nothing has caught up with it yet in performance or reliability. It's also 5 years old and still going strong with almost no parts replaced. If I still flew 450s, I'd give the Embla a try.

It does seem like a shame that nearly all the designs are very close to each other. As was mentioned, it seems like mankind has explored all the quirky ideas and decided the Align type rotorhead design was about as good as we could do.

I had considered that and ruled it out due to cost, but it seems like getting a "unique" 450 runs about the same cost as a 500/550 size bird.

If I were to go bigger, I think I'd stick with the 500 size though. 500's appear to be able to use 2x2200 3s batteries, which means I don't need new batteries since I already have a bunch of them. Upping to the 550 seems like it costs significantly more in all respects (just my observation though).

Of the 450's that Hirobo looks the most interesting. That servo/linkage layout for the cyclic looks nuts. Plus, I have a soft spot for Hirobo products, as a Hirobo shuttle circa 1985 is what got my addiction started. I flew it for all of 3 seconds before I freaked out, pancaked it, and had a boom strike. But the seed of interest had been planted...

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm all ears for further recommendations.

Atom 500 would work great for you and you can upgrade it to a 550 for only the cost of a boom belt and blades

run it on 6S mind you 6S 2200mAh will drastically limit your flight times think <4min most 500s need more like 2700 to 3200 to get good flight times and not kill packs
i run 3000mAh packs in my 500 and 5min flight times the packs come down ~22.8v and i put pack in ~2200mAh
but this is at a goved head speed of 2600rpm if you when lower like 2400 you could get by with 2600mAh packs at 5min
but 2200mAh your looking at running 2200rpm which is getting on the low end for a 500 to get 5min flight times

really the only helis that share packs well are 6S 500's to 12S 600s and 6S 550's to 12S 700's
any thing else not so much

Nothing wrong with going with a SE V2 with a FBL conversion, a a HK450 Pro, either FBL or FB. There are allot of options that are different that are still compatible with finding parts local...I love the support of horizon hobby and Align....and they all fly a bit different